Puzzle



April 14, 1925.

1,533,507 N. J. MAY

PUZZLE Filed Nov. 27, 1922 FIG. 5

INVENTDR' N. J. MAY

Patented Apr. 14, 1925.

NICOLAUS J. MAY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

PUZZLE.

Application filed November 27, 1922. Serial No. 603,484.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NICOLAUS J. MAY, acitizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of cisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Puzzles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in geometrical puzzles and resides in the provision of a highly amusing and novel form of puzzle which takes into consideration the contradistinction of colors, characters or other indicia, in the solving of the puzzle.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a puzzle of the character described which will prove instructive, entertaining and which will afford a means of testing the mental efficiency of applicants for positions and for other general purposes of this nature, there being a plurality of puzzle pieces which may be made of wood, card-board or other material, of irregular outline arranged so that when assembled in proper order a definite geometrical figure will be produced, each piece bearing like characteristics and being of similar appearance on one side and having a different but corresponding appearance or indicia on the other side thereof. For example, each puzzle piece will be white on one side and red on the other side. In employing this contradistinction of color, or contradistinction of indicia feature, the person attempting to solve the puzzle is misled. If the arrangement of the pieces is such that when attempting to solve the puzzle with the pieces of all one appearance, face up, the puzzle can not be solved, it being necessary to have one puzzle piece appear in contradistinction with the other pieces as to color or indicia in order to solve the puzzle.

The invention may also be used to advantage for advertising purposes.

The invention possesses other advantages and features some of which, with the foregoing will be set forth at length in the following description where I shall outline in full that form of the invention'which I have selected for illustration in the drawing accompanying and forming a part. of the present specification. In said drawing I have shown oneform of the construction of my invention, but it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to such form since the invention as expressed in the claims may be embodied in a plurality of forms.

San Fran-- Referring to the drawing: Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4: represent top plan views of the respective pieces of the puzzle, there.

being four of such pieces.

Fig. 5 represents a plan view of the puzzle pieces as when assembled-but in improper order, the faces of the pieces corresponding as to appearance.

Fig. 6 represents a top plan view of the puzzle as when correctly solved, showing one ofthe pieces in contradistinction in appearance to the others, for example, one piece with the red side showing and pieces with the white sides showing.

In carrying out my invention, I cut or otherwise form, angular pieces of such a nature that when properly assembled a definite geometrical figure such as a square, rectangle or the like, will be provided and such that one of the pieces will have an a pearance in contradistinction to the remaining pieces. In the embodiment of the in vention shown in the drawing, I have selected a square as the geometrical figure to be produced by properly placing together the pieces of the puzzle. I have provided four pieces, designated 1, 2, 3 and 4. One way in which I may arrange for the contradistinction in appearance feature of the puzzle is to provide, as shown, each piece of one color onone side, for example white, and of another coloron the'other side, for eX- ample red. If the puzzle pieces were-cut or formed from a piece of card-board or wood,

which, for example isred on one side and white on the other, said pieces could be fitted together and the puzzle solved very easily with the exposed faces of the pieces of like the other appearance. However, to make the puzzle amusing and entertaining, that is, more difficult to solve, one of said pieces, for example, the one 4, is discarded but replaced by a piece of the same shape, size and appearance, except that it is out from the material with the opposite color uppermost, whereby in order to solve the puzzle, said piece must necessarily be placed with the side thereof uppermost in contradistinction to the color-of the other pieces.

As shown in Fig. 5, thepieces 1, 2, 3 and 4, are assembledwith the white sides uppermost, that is provided that a white side is to be employed as a means of giving each piece the same appearance on one side.

owever, it is to be understood that indicia may be used, of any sort and various other colors employed but so that each piece will be of the same appearance on one side.

The psychological eiiect in solving the puzzle is such that the person attempting to solve it will, unconsciously beiniiuenced to do so with the pieces laid on a table or other support with the colors or other indic-ia corresponding. For example, the pieces are laid in front of the person attempting to solve the puzzle with the white sices oi the pieces uppermost. T he person is unconsciousi; in fluenced in attempting to solve the puzzle to keep the pieces with. the white side uppermost and moves thorn in various positions in order to solve the puzzle. it is not likely to occur to the person to reverse one piece and arrange the group of pieces with their white sides uppernwst and the reversed piece with its red side uppermost. The effect of this contradi ,tion such that it will causetne person solving), the puzzle to arassemblage rive at the conclusion that the or the pieces is improper unless the reversed piece is laid near and in proper relation to the other pieces. 7

In Fi -6, the puzzle is shown as when the pieces are carefully put together, in this instance, the piece l is reversed "from the position as shown in Fig. 5, which brings its red side up erinost, wher as the remainint; pieces remain with their white side appearing. it is contended that in the handling of the pieces in attempting to solve the puzzle, one would be influenced to avoid reversing the pieces and i since a contrast in colors would be apparent. However, should one solving; the puzzle, place the piece i close to and in proper relation to the other pieces rather than hold it in the hand, it will be apparent that the figure produced is suiarc and that the puzzle is solved. it rill thus he "een thatthe principal feature of shi. nve' You extends into the use of puzzle pieces o pieces depends upon their being laid with one piece of e ajpearance contrasting with the other pieces.

I claim:

Hi puzzle consisting of "four pieces which when laid in proper relation will form n predeterir'ned figure o2 rectilinear outline, the face sides of said pieces being of the same color and the reverse sides being of a ditteieut color, said pieces being so s-zh'aped that when all are laid with the face sides up icrniost, a figure other than that predetermined will he produced and when properly laid toiorin the predetermined ligure, one oi the pieces is required to be reversed.

'NICOLAUS J. M AY.

such relation and appear-f mice that the correct arran enient of such 

